Matt Bellamy from Muse live backstage at Lolla! #101WKQXLolla
Posted by 101 WKQX on Thursday, August 3, 2017
Congratulations to Muse’s Matthew Bellamy who popped the question to his girlfriend Elle Evans, during their vacation in Fiji and she said yes. The couple has been dating for two years.
The soon-to-be-wed couple announced the happy news on Evan’s Instagram account. Elle Evans is a successful model.
Christmas music can be extremely annoying with it’s sludging out of the PA system of every store your shopping in and the speakers of the relative you don’t like spending the holidays with. It can be overly sappy and corny to the point where it’s disingenuous, while others just warm your heart like a puppy snuggling in your lap while you’re sipping eggnog on the couch with a fire crackling as the gifts are wrapped and waiting for Christmas morning.
Alternative rock has taken it’s ironic swipe over the Christmas music catalog with cover songs and deranged demented tracks take their own snow-shoveled path. Here is my 25 choice cuts of alternative bands doing their own out-there spins on holiday music. Some are inventive covers of songs while others are their own unique deranged winter wonders.
Almost any track from the Tarquin Records All-Star Holiday Extravaganza album could have a place on this list (one more makes the cut by the way) but this organ driven comedy track talks about noteworthy NHL stars and what they are doing on the big holiday. The lyrics talk about Chicago Blackhawks great Jeremey Roenick getting a brand new bike, so you know it’s just fun.
This song from the ‘Taste of Christmas’ comp is a hard rocking goof about Santa somehow fighting the supernatural forces of evil and “seeking the purest of souls”. This not to be taken seriously but that’s the point.
This religous standard has been belted by high-voiced choir boys well before your Grandpa’s hair was grey but Rivers Cuomo and company give it this distorted emo take that adds a little head-bobbing rock feel. It comes from the 2008 EP ‘Christmas with Weezer’.
The video for this crowd-chorus rowdy sing-a-long plays almost like an episode of ‘It’s Always Sunny in (Boston)” with the Murphy’s showing off their dysfunctional family. If this was a soundtrack for a ‘Shameless’ holiday special it would also work.
Yes, this is real. It’s a cover that is superior to the original song that appeared on the 1980 Star Wars theme cash-grab ‘Christmas in the Stars’ album. This cover features the same computer blips and bloops but Dewan’s nerdy soulfulness over a reserved electric organ hits a sincere tone of love for the rebel droid who held the plans that helped take down the Death Star.
Nevada’s sweetest sons the Killers have been putting our Christmas songs almost every year since 2006 for charity, and this songs almost plays a storytelling jam you might on one of their regular albums but it talks of the child-like wonder of Christmas.
Enter to win to see the Killers at the United Center on January 16th
All we want for Christmas is an MCR reunion. Give this to me any day over the Mariah Carey version every year.
This cover of the Vandals is a bouncing gem from the early ‘Tragic Kingdom’ era of Orange County’s finest with a madcap video to boot. Do you think Gwen Stefani will finally respond to my Christmas Cards since I put her band on this list?
Scott Lucs gives a charming take on a classic that lends itself to his vocal sneer that we’ve come to expect from him.
Pay attention to the darkly funny lyrics and don’t let your Granddad hear it.
A love song about being in the drunk tank around the holiday.
Willmete’s finest take this cut from Disney classic “A Nightmare Before Christmas” for a whirl and it gives all the chills of Jack Skeleton discovering that special feeling.
When this band regarded as one of the best alt acts in the last 10 years started their comeback in 2015, they got it going with this heart-wrenching breakup with the idea of Christmas itself.
This pogo-jumping take on the religious hymn will most likely be heard at any Christmas midnight mass, and that’s ok but it’s a refreshing interpretation that truly soars from these California punk legends.
You can almost hear the snow on this number from Duluth alt band Low who featured it on their 1999 holiday EP simply titled ‘Christmas’.
The most loveable weirdos to break out of the 80’s, TMBG were known for venturing into the novelty world of music with some of their album being made for children and while other tracks got animated send-ups on ‘Tiny Toon Adventures’. So of course, they had a killer song about a man being jealous of his wife flirting with Santa.
This candy pop tune with George Michael talking of a love lost, gets a bit of accoustic emo sickness from one of best alt bands of the 2000’s.
08.The Killers ‘ Joseph, Better You than Me’
Yes, the Killers make great alt xmas songs and this won’t be the last on the list. This collaboration with rock icon Elton John and Pet Shop Boy’s Neil Tennant is a soulful tribute to Joseph, the earthly fraternal figure who lead Jesus through life. Poor Joseph never got his due in song, but this one really plays out like a Billy Joel broadway smash.
Imagine if the animals at the Zoo had theire own wild party. Yeah, well Wayne Coyne and company made their delightful idea into a joyful song that is very easy to sing-a-long with.
A song the 80’s rap legends were initially hesitant to record for the charity compilation ‘A Very Special Christmas’ has grown into one of the catchiest holiday bangers of all time. Yeah, how many seasonal songs can you call a ‘banger’? The cornball story of the song is just as good sugary sweet as one of those cookies with green and red sprinkles on it.
Stevens has earned his following for his experimental commitment to big concepts with religious overtones but this playful song is a just more fun then running down the steps as a kid on Christmas morning.
The coolest punk band ever demands you hug it out this year.
The most popular hit from this new wave outfit talks about in the middle of the shopping rush running into the potential boyfriend. It’s got this early mixture of funk, rap, and disco that ages well.
This predecessor to pop punk cut sees the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers put a Robin Hood narrative to help us remember the less fortunate during the holidays in which the tough street kids demand that Father Christmas give them money and save the toys “for the little rich boys”. You know the song is good when you lose count of how many bands have covered it.
This dark twisted tale of a murderous avenger in Santa coming for a misbehaving Brandon Flowers plays out over a shimmy and shake musical ride. It’s certainly not a track to sing-a-long to with Grandma but it’s so weird but also reflects on the bleakness of holidays for those out there not doing well while also laughing at the ‘be good, get good stuff’ concept that we are told as kids. Just remember it’s a dark yet light hearted on the forced cherriness of the seasons, and not to be taken seriously.
Also this is Brandon’s mustache at the peak of odd weirdness.
Thanks @passantino for explaining what this was. I thought/hoped the aliens had finally come for us 👽 pic.twitter.com/XSOgbdnQNz
— Adolfo Flores (@aflores) December 23, 2017
“[The record labels] can generate a lot of excitement when it’s your first record, that’s when it’s the easiest. By the time it comes to your second album a lot of these artists you hear about are already dead and buried under billions of new artists.” SM
Yes, yes…we were already scheduled to get a Dave Chappelle special this New Year’s Eve on Netflix.
But on the down low, it appears we will get twice what we bargained for.
There’s not much tipped in the video teaser below…but it appears as though in addition to Equanimity, Dave will put out something he filmed at the Comedy Store in L.A. from November 20th as well. And that’s all we know. See the updated trailer below. — [eric]
Surprise! Check out the new Christmas track from Panic! At The Disco, just dropped down the chimney on December 21st. — [eric]
Is Tom Delonge with his former bandmate from Blink-182, Travis Barker? It appears that might be happening from little teasers and leaks this week on social media from both members of the iconic pop punk band. Delonge whose had a busy week with new UFO discoveries made through his To The Stars Academy Of Arts & Science who released some really shocking video, posted on IG recently that he was being interviewed for a project that Barker was working on and he expressed to Blink fans that they had “talked a bit about other stuff”. WHAT IS THIS OTHER STUFF?
The social media detectives over at Alt-Press pulled this one from Travis Barker’s Instragram. In the image which appears to your average musican in a studio show, has a specific guitar that caught the eye of diehard fans. This guitar is a ES-333—which happens to be Tom DeLonge’s signature. ARE THEY MAKING MUSIC TOGETHER?! These may be wild assumptions but they are not that far off.
During a March 2017 interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune, Delonge expressed publicly again he was still involved in Blink, even though Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba has been with the group for two years plus, a long touring cycle, and a well-received album. “They have someone doing my job for me,” DeLonge said. “It’s just that I’m so busy. If I wanted to, I could be back in a period of days.” DeLonge also said “I still own the band,” but clarified that he co-owns it with Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker. “Blink is in my DNA, I talk to Travis quite a bit and we try and figure out how and when it’s going to make sense.”
— Tom DeLonge (@tomdelonge) November 2, 2017
In the video below, Blink 182 breaks down all of the tracks on their album ‘California’ they did with Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba . It’s truly magnificent album that was a graceful transition without Delonge in the fold and adding Skiba’s creative edge. If you disagree, hit me up on Twitter @Kevkellam
Dashboard Confessional’s official music video for their single ‘We Fight’ from their upcoming album Crooked Shadows – available February 9, 2018 via Fueled By Ramen. N
Chris Carrabba brought his emotive energy to a solo performance in the 101WKQX Lounge in 2017. Watch the entire session below featuring an exclusive interview hosted by Lauren plus intimate performances of ‘Stolen’, ‘Screaming Infidelities’ and ‘Vindicated’.
This ‘We Fight’ video totally reminds me of the visual elements in the classic A-Ha music video ‘Take On Me’.
Tom DeLonge dropped a UFO video on the world this week that stirred up some interest in alien life.
Neil deGrasse Tyson says…slow down, Planet Earth.
The ex Blink-182 member got a shot of credibility with both the video (shown below) — and the news that his To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science is employing the head of a former Pentagon program whose mission was to assess the threat of extraterrestrial existence.
But in an interview with CNN, famed astrophysicist Tyson had this to say:
“Call me when you have a dinner invite from an alien,” Dr. Tyson says. “The evidence is so paltry for aliens to visit Earth, I have no further interest. Let other people who care go ahead, and then when you finally find some aliens bring them into Times Square.”
He continued, “The universe brims with mysteries. Just because you don’t know what it is you’re looking at doesn’t mean it’s intelligent aliens visiting from another planet. Scientists live in mystery every day of our lives … People are uncomfortable not knowing, not the scientists. I’m fine. We don’t know what it is. Keep checking it out.”
That doesn’t mean Tyson is out on alien lifeforms completely. In fact, he advocates the hell out of keeping vigilant. But he also points to the dismantling of the formerly secret government program — the Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program — as evidence that no credible threat exists at this time. — [eric]
Smashing Pumpkin’s leader and Chicago treasure Billy Corgan was on ‘WGN Morning News’ today to talk about his new solo album ‘Ogilala’, the birth of his son, and perform some acoustic tunes.
‘Tis the season so Corgan performed the holiday deep cut “Christmas Dreaming’ from Frank Sinatra with WGN’s Jenniger Wiegel. It’s not as popular as other Christmas like ‘Winter Wonderland’ but the song has a soft demure feel that lends itself to the introspection we get from Corgan in his solo music and the Pumpkins. Truly a genuine tune.
If that was not enough Corgan, he appeared on NBC’s ‘Last Call with Billy Corgan’ to talk about his new expanded family may form a band, how his music has evolved, growing up in a counter culture home, and singing how “he sings in real life.” He also opens up about owning the oldest pro wrestling promotion, the NWA.
Here is Billy on Brian and Lou in 2014.
83-year-old Patrick Jiron and his 80-year-old wife Barbara were pulled in York, Nebraska.
When officers said they smelled marijuana, the couple admitted they had some.
That’s when deputies found 60 POUNDS of pot along with several containers of concentrated THC.
The couple said they planned to “distribute the marijuana to family and friends as Christmas gifts.” More HERE.
Grandparents of the year.
<3 @laurenoneil
Remember all the excitement building up to Christmas as a kid? Part of the hype came from cartoons simply adding the over-the-top sizzle on the candy cane train. And cartoons had a different special air to them back in the day when we caught them on Saturday mornings. Check out Christmas Flashbacks this week on 101WKQX.
Still some of those ‘toons in retrospect don’t age as well insert this ridiculous episode of the 80’s action adaption of RAMBO. Yes, Sylvester Stallone’s unhinged war hero who blew up almost everything in the R-rated ass-kicking films like ‘First Blood’ and ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ for some reason got a kids animated show with a ‘Force of Freedom’ tWayline. Just imagine John Whick getting a cartoon now where he’s snapping people’s arms like twigs that has commercials for Hacthimals? Yes, it was like that.
So who better than to save a ‘Santa Claus’ from an international terrorist organization that just has to have an aggressive abbreviation S.A.V.A.G.E? Get on the phone and get me RAMBO! Yes, it may be snowy outside but these orphans need Christmas and it’s going to take Rambo jumping on planes, snowmobile chases, and several moments with a knife that make you say ‘really?’
Rambo is just there at the start of the episode for no apparent reason, and the ‘Santa’ here is a former rocket scientist who no longer wants to make weapons but rather toys so why not dress up like Santa and giving the kiddies toys at Christmas. Also be aware when Rambo takes off his shirt to show off his chizzled pecs that’s when it gets even crazier. Check it out above.
Youtube dude Skunkape digs into the episode and breaks it down.
Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) is a few months removed from a blockbuster boxing match against McGregor, UFC’s biggest star. The ‘Money’ won the fight via TKO in the 10th round, and promised it was his last fight despite the lure of even more millions that could wait in any future boxing main events. Now comes news today the mega-fighter could be flirting with Mixed Martial Arts and a fight with the UFC.
Still as ESPN reports, the chance of Mayweather going into the UFC Octagon in a completely new combat sport are unlikely but it seems somewhat legit as the news broken by UFC boss Dana White himself. This year’s McGregor vs Mayweather super-fight seemed like it was too hard to believe, so why should we be surprised to see this?
Check out this Christmas display which is synced to an dubstep Star Wars track. Complete with moving lights on top of the house. My problem, I’m not sure what this has to do with Christmas.
Question: Have Xmas displays jumped the shark? -wALT
(from timeout.com)
As Stan’s Donuts and Coffee continues to expand and add locations in Chicago, fans have become accustomed to the chain’s opening ritual, in which one of the first 100 people in line at a new location wins free donuts for life. To celebrate the debut of its new Magnificent Mile flagship store (181 N Michigan Ave), Stan’s is hosting a grand opening celebration that’s a bit more indulgent than usual. (MORE HERE)
(from nme.com)
Frances Bean has revealed that she’s setting up an Instagram account to provide followers with cooking tips and recipes on a daily basis.
The 25-year-old daughter of Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain revealed the account on her own Instagram, confirming that it’ll be known as ‘Space Witchin In The Kitchen’. (MORE HERE)
(from stereogum.com)
Brothers and former Oasis bandmates Noel and Liam Gallagher both released solo albums this past fall, which means both had many chances to talk trash about each other on Twitter and in the press, something they’ve always been delighted to do. But now it looks like the two of them have made up, which means there’s some chance at an Oasis reunion — or at least a slightly-less-uncomfortable family Christmas — in the coming days. (MORE HERE)
Source: Inside the Magic
Disney added a new robot of Donald Trump to it’s long-running animatronic presentation the Hall of Presidents, except the current President’s robot counterpart is reminding more people of his 2016 Presidential campaign opponent Hillary Clinton. Videos and pics of the Trumpdroid have surfaced online this week from the Disney World th
Some are speculating this Trump-bot was originally made to resemble Clinton but has be retrofitted to look like Trump with mixed results. Trump supporters online have posted their support, but some point out how his tie should be red instead of blue. Other Trump supporters have expressed surprise the 45th President is even represented in the exhibit.
Now we can just expect a great sketch on Saturday Night Live with Alec Baldwin playing Trump fighting the robot version of himself right?
Here me out on this. Clearly Disney had Hilary's robot ready to go and then they had to try and make it look like Trump. Don't hate me. This is just a necessary and painful fact we all need to deal with. pic.twitter.com/biSirfwE59
— Shannon O'Neill (@spotastic) December 19, 2017
Others online have speculated the robot likeness Donnie is more reminiscent of veteran film actor Jon Voight.
Disney gave the job of Trump in the Hall of Presidents to Jon Voight and I can’t stop laughing. pic.twitter.com/dtu4PnqPv4
— Wil Spillane 🚀 (@2xUEss) December 19, 2017
